Biology

Dodrio is a large, wingless, three-headed avian Pokémon. Each head has a long, sharp beak and a black V-shaped, feather crest. It has bristly brown feathers covering its heads and upper body, while its lower half has a smooth layer of black feathers. Its tail consists of three pale red feathers with lighter tips. Its wingless body rests on two long and slender, but powerful legs with feet that have three clawed toes in front and one in back. A male has black necks, whereas a female has brown necks; both genders have brown legs.

Each head has its own working brain and distinct personality. Each head represents and expresses either sorrow, anger, or joy. Despite being separate, it has the innate ability to use all three of its brains to collect data, formulate, and then execute complex plans and strategies. However, on occasion it may overthink, which causes it to become immobilized and unable to carry out any action whatsoever. Being separate individuals on the same body, the three heads will continue to bicker until they, or at least one of the heads gets to eat. This satisfies the other two heads, quelling them and temporarily ending their infighting. Another form of adaptation that it has acquired is the ability to have at least one head alert at all times. Extreme caution is advised when all three heads are facing separate directions. It is in this state that it is the most dangerous and going near it may result in a severe pecking.

Along with its three heads, it has three sets of hearts and lungs as well. This allows it to efficiently oxygenate and pump blood throughout its body, thus giving it increased endurance to run vast distances without rest. It is especially prone to race vigorously across grassy plains, even in arid seasons with little rainfall.

Minor appearances

Dodrio debuted briefly in Pokémon - I Choose You!, where it shouted its cry to the rising sun like a rooster. Notably, it was the first Pokémon to be physically seen in the anime, since all of the Pokémon that had appeared beforehand were either on TV, in dreams, or not real.

Tracey was seen riding a Dodrio in a flashback in The Lost Lapras while Pokémon watching. However, it is unknown whether Dodrio belonged to him or if it was simply borrowed, and it was never seen again.

Before Generation IV, the necks of normal Dodrio were beige (which became the female neck color), while its pre-evolution's necks were black (which became the male neck color).

Origin

Despite its name, Dodrio seems like it has more in common with ostriches than dodos. It also seems to show some similarity to the Moa, an extinct flightless bird, and the Emu, another flightless bird. It also resembles the Kiwi in some ways as well. Its crests may mean it may have been based on cassowaries.

Name origin

Dodrio is a combination of dodo (an extinct, flightless bird) and trio (group of three).

Dodorio may be a combination of ドードー dodo and トリオ trio. To note, dori may be a reference to 鳥 tori (bird).